Why aren't there more all-girl bands?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: hesperis
Date: 12 Oct 04 - 09:06 AM

I was in an all-girl band once... the other songwriter's boyfriend broke us up because I was the first one to say I didn't want him as the producer... neither did anyone else, but I was the one that said it first, so he hated me. He ruined the friendship I had with his gf and tried to ruin the friendships I had with the other members, too. Grrr.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,somergirl
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 08:24 PM

I was in a all girl band once butmy niehbor boy wanted to play the drums but we wouldnt let him.p.s. he got mad.that was stupid.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rosebrook
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:33 PM

I play in a local all-girl band. For the past few years, the All-Girl Impromptu Pick-Up Band has been playing traditonal music for contra dances. For instrumentation, we've got dulcimer, concertina, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, accordian, bodhran and string bass. As all band member are gracefully aged 50+ women (I'm the baby of the group at 46), we have considered re-naming the group to Hot Flash Gals.

If you're anywhere near Oregon's beautiful south coast on the 20th of the month, come dance to our tunes.
South Coast Folk Society

~Rosebrook

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,CK
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 06:40 PM

Here's my take: women have kids, then take care of them; while men have kids, and still play in their bands. I've seen it a million times in the visual, writing, and performing arts. Guys keep having their pre-kids life, while women drastically change their lives with the kid's arrival. There are fewer all female bands, fewer female visual artists in galleries, fewer female writers out there reading their stuff because they do more of the kid-raising gig. And as a concert organizer myself, I see it: there are plenty of solo folk guys wandering around, but not too many solo female ones. They drop out of the scene, have a kid, and stay local. I just don't know any guys who give up their livelihoods and avocations when they become dads.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:13 PM

Another all girl pop-rock band (as distinct from some manufactured crap) was Daisy Chain.

One reason Old guy guitarists/singers tend not to talk (as much) to young women guitarists/singers (or even old ones) is they get very wary as being bagged pervy old letches. It may be true but the rejection hurts.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Carmen
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:59 PM

I recall Eliza Carthy writing in 'fRoots' magazine that young and attractive female singers/musicians never have trouble getting bookings from elderly male folk club organisers.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 08:14 PM

What, you mean Ricki Skaggs isn't a girl?

Art

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 07:24 AM

why are there so many all-boy bands?

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Crystal
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 07:30 AM

All boy bands sell better!
I'd be in an all girl band if I could.
Maybe I'll be an all girl band on my own and test out the elderly male folk club organisers theory!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,anonomous chick
Date: 28 Nov 04 - 06:41 PM

THE DONNAS ROCK! YEAH!

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,larey12
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 07:48 PM

i feel your pain we do need more girl bands i wish they would let my band sing

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,LD
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:04 AM

...cuz 99% of females always want to be "The Singer" so, there actually are not enough numbers in terms of INSTRUMENTALISTS that form (let's face it) The CORE of actual bands.

And, imo, being the Singer is "easy" - most band singers are not major singers (chops, major range, Celine Dion!), they just are average in scope, they aren't shy at just carrying a tune (which, btw, MOST instrumentalists are very capable of doing)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 10:37 AM

There are actually LOTS of bands with female instrumentalists. A few are all female, but most are mixed. As I posted on another thread, MOST of the small-venue indie bands I see are mixed these days, which is just not reflected in what gets media airplay, where women seem to be stereotyped as either solo vocalists or members of all girl "manufactured" vocal ensembles who don't play instruments.

On the Indie scene, Ipso Facto, fronted by Rosalie Cunningham, were a great, but short-lived all female band. Vicky Smith, their former drummer, is really good.

Tiny Tin Lady are now 5/6 female, though their horn player (!) is nominally given a female stage designation.

At the last small venue indie mini-festival I went to, at least 30% of the band members (about 25 bands) were women, playing everything from keyboards, fiddle, lead guitar, flute, bass, drums to sax and trumpet.

They're there, but seem to be "filtered out" during the climb to mainstream acceptance.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rockhen
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 11:50 AM

In my own limited experience as an amateur female musician, my rehearsals with my all female band were affected frequently by family situations when if the children of others were ill or needed lifts etc...and one or other of the band had to forgo music for family. However, for some strange reason, whenever I have been in bands with male musicians, they don't seem to be affected by this in the same way. I can honestly say that I can't remember them cancelling for anything but ill health (of themselves!) or something major.
I am lucky, my other half knows how important my music is to me as he is also a musician. So, I have been able to spend time practising and gigging when it has arisen, in the same way that he has.
Most music nights I go to have much fewer female musicians there, than male. Maybe it will change in time. I hope so. It can be a bit lonely out there sometimes when you are the only female in a room but fortunately most musicians, male or female seem fairly welcoming and decent.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,mayo mick
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 12:42 PM

I think the very fact that there is something distinct and different about an all female group might be part of the reason . Good musicians don't want to be in a band which so many would still regard as something of a novelty act .

The problem doesn't arise for men . Nobody would turn around to a man and say , "You're in an all male band ? wow that's cool/unusual etc" Women who just want to play and win recognition for the quality of their music might feel they have to go into mixed bands to stop being bracketed in a non-musical way .

What stands out about the Dixie Chicks, for instance ?Why should somebody like myself who has never actually heard the group's music , know about their existence? Eight years ago I would have probably registered that an American band took a brave stand against the Iraq invasion ,but I would have certainly forgotten their names by now if it hadn't been for the fact that they are an all-woman band.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rockhen
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 01:27 PM

I would not consider whether the musicians were female or male to be significant. You just hit it off with musicians musically, or you don't, in my experience, whether or not they are male or female. I personally don't think an all-female band is a novelty act, just less common than an all-male band.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: PercyBysshe
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 01:57 PM

Definitely less common. I sing in an all female trio, and we find the folk club scene in particular to be very "blokey". Often we'll be the only women doing floor spots.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,mayomick
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 02:34 PM

I would not consider it significant whether musicians are female or male either. But I do consider it significant that an all male band is considered "normal" ,but not an all female one . The fact that this thread exists surely suggests that there is a perception that an all woman band is unusual .I think that might put some women musicians off joining or forming an all female group .

For women gender is a selling point much more than it is for men . An all woman band would get talked about and get marketed as an all women band.I don't think that's right . But, while greatly admiring the bravery of those who refuse to let stereotypes interfere with what they want to do , I certainly wouldn't blame young women for not wanting to join an all female band.

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 02:59 PM

Maybe the folk scene is still very blokey, though the last 3 venues I've been to have had several women doing floor spots: autoharps, concertinas, fiddles.

However, the indie scene, as I described above, has a healthy proportion of women players and far more mixed bands than ever make it into mainstream. I guess that since most of them are in their teens and early 20s, they haven't (yet?) come up against the family commitments mentioned by Rockhen above.

I'm probably a bit odd, being a 54 year old bloke going to unsigned indie gigs where I'm often the oldest there by several decades, but some of the music's great. There's a lot of dross too, but it beats paying £100 for a stadium ticket to see a distant screen showing broken-down versions of bands from my youth who've reformed to pay a tax bill :-)

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Alan Squires
Date: 08 Jun 10 - 03:11 PM

At orkney folk festival last week, I saw:

The Shee 6 girls and tremendous as well - electric harp for the bass lines - brilliant

Wrigley Sisters gigging in their own area and still brilliant, if not more so.

Shetland Heritage Fiddlers 90% women or so - brilliant fiddlers.

the Bevvy Sisters3 women singing in brilliant really close harmony just using two lads on guitar and drums but the singing was the main thing.

I am sure there are gradually more women in folk music these days, if not in all girlk bands, playing important roles in mixed bands

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 09 Jun 10 - 04:47 AM

Don't forget Uncle Earl!

Uncle Earl clip

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Emma
Date: 26 Oct 12 - 07:28 PM

There is a pretty good English all girl rock band called called 'My Heroine'

www.myheroineofficial.com

https://www.facebook.com/myheroinemusic?fref=ts

Subject: RE: Why aren't there more all-girl bands?
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 27 Oct 12 - 01:04 AM

Mountain Man is a trio of young women with a unique new all-acoustic sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePwi5M2AJAQ